Mr. Murder
Published: 1993
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Ghost, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Mr. Murder is a horror novel written by best-selling novelist Dean Koontz. This is one of the finest thrillers by Dean Koontz. He resurrects his interest in genetic engineering to create a really terrifying adversary, but one for whom you almost feel sad. The characters are an extremely likable family with two wonderful children. The narrative proceeds at an almost breakneck rate. There are no dull moments. The finale is a little obvious in that "there's no other way out," but it's still pleasant. I am certain you'll enjoy it if you read it.
The narrative and realistic tale were what I like most about this book. The characters were fantastic. Koontz has always been good at inventing memorable characters.
When reading, the readers may think to themselves, "This is an exciting book. The plot twists and turns, and every time I think I've figured it out, I worry whether my assumptions are hasty. I still have about eighty pages to read, so I may be surprised, but this Koontz adventure is the best ever!" I think you get the idea of what I'm trying to say. I'm not going to say anything else because I want everyone who reads it to have as much enjoyment as I did.
I'm not sure why so many of my reader friends disliked the book! Koontz was ahead of his time when he wrote this in 1993. The plot is fantastic and just gets better as the narrative progresses.
Prepare for a story with many twists and turns. It's incredible how he puts you inside the mind of a murderer. As the tale progresses, you begin to doubt your own morals. A dynamic conclusion will leave you guessing about how everything will play out. It's a fantastic read!
While reading this book, I had the feeling that I had read it before, but I couldn't recall the story as I was progressing, and then I realized it was a new story but I was confusing it with some stories that Stephen King wrote, and even some of its style was like a few more of Dean Koontz's own stories, but don't worry it is not a copy and it is not a mixture of many stories either.
Another item that sprang to mind was the 2001 film Replicant, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, which had some cloning and other small elements that reminded me of it. But it is the only link between these two mediums.
I believe that happened to me because I read a lot and have read so many books from the same genres, which sometimes confuses my cerebral microprocessor, and I am sure many enthusiastic readers have to cope with the same scenario again and again.
Yes, individuals like me can give you the whole narrative of a movie from start to finish, and we can even create novels because of that amazing memory bank in our heads.
It's been a lot of pleasure exploring Dean Koontz's previous reads during the last few weeks. I'm still a long way from the latest novel, and I'm actually relieved that I have many other wonderful books to hold me over till his next one comes out.
Mr. Koontz is a superb writer who creates realistic scenarios with the nuance of a single word here and there. His mind can dream up the finest storylines, blending mystery, intrigue, and fear.
I'm going to add some content in the next few lines that is essentially from the book's synopsis, so I don't consider it a spoiler.
The Dean Koontz School of Writing is evident in "Mr. Murder." It's a well-written novel about an author and his clone. Neither the writer nor the clone is aware of the other until the doppelganger’s wiring malfunctions and he comes to claim the novelist's family and life.
Clones do not appear spontaneously, as we all know; they must be created by a large and evil Network intent on creating a super-soldier.
Things didn't go well for this clone since he wasn't supposed to be formed from the novelist's DNA. It's comforting to know that God is still in the details, even for the multi-cultural, super-rich, super-powerful terrible men.
Following the release of Mr. Murder, Koontz sold the picture rights to Savoy Pictures. The adaptation was slated to be released in 1996 as a big-budget theatrical film starring Bruce Willis as Marty Stillwater and directed by Uli Edel. This version, however, was never completed.
Due to the failure of the feature film, the rights to the idea were sold to a new production firm, which developed it as a miniseries on a considerably lesser budget.
Dick Lowry directed this adaption based on a teleplay by Stephen Tolkin. Stephen Baldwin portrayed Marty Stillwater, Julie Warner portrayed Paige Stillwater, Thomas Haden Church portrayed Drew Oslett Jr., and James Coburn portrayed Drew Oslett, Sr., a character not in the novel.
It first aired in New Zealand on September 21, 1998, and then on ABC in the United States on April 26 and 29, 1999.
The characters in this novel, like in his others, are interesting and surprising. The villains are genuinely terrible, while the heroes are inspirational. This book will captivate you from beginning to end, and you will not be able to put it down.
Final Thoughts
Dean Koontz is beginning to give me the sense that he can make even the most banal things in life exciting. Not that the book is dull, but his writing style makes some of the book's more routine facts more engaging.
There is an implausible premise that is vitally fundamental to the tale, as it is in many of his writings. This, to me, is what makes it more exciting since it goes beyond your typical thriller novel.
Nothing against females, but I had to mention this, and it also goes in the opposite direction since the heroes are the same and make excellent boyfriends or husbands. Koontz appears to model the romantic female interest character after the cliché of the flawless, supporting, bright, overly capable, and gorgeous woman.
I don't mind it, but is it really feasible to find someone like that in real life every time a person falls in love? Perhaps all of the heroes in these tales are really lucky.
And in this narrative, he pulls this character even further into silliness. The main character's psychologist wife turns out to be G.I. Jane as well, with no explanation other than that she had had some training.
She is not only all of the aforementioned things, but she is also extremely tactical and competent with weaponry. She approached issues with the knowledge and skill of a Navy Seal, and she was essentially the family's defender.
Realistically, handling a shotgun might be intimidating for anybody who hasn't shot one before, yet she handles it like Rambo despite the vast difference in size and expertise.
Simply put, it is a novel and not a real-life situation, so have fun and don't put too much pressure on your brain, but one thing I can understand is that even if you don't know how to use a weapon or have never fought, if your family and loved ones are in danger, you will undoubtedly become a killing machine, so think of this as what is happening in this novel. If you can disregard it, it's a fairly decent story with a nice surprise at the end.
Synopsis
“#1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz delivers a gripping novel of a man accused of stealing not just someone’s identity, but his entire life...
A big house. A beautiful wife. Two happy and healthy children. It’s a nice life that writer Martin Stillwater has made for himself. But he can’t shake this feeling of impending disaster.
One bad moment on an otherwise fine day has put Marty on a collision course with a killer—a man with a mere shadow of an identity who is desperately searching for something more...
Martin’s home. Martin’s family. Martin’s life.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
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Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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